Hemp conference in Estonia
For the third year in a row, a small place in Estonia called Kanepi (Hemp in English) is promoting hemp.
The three main attractions are a festival which was being held in mid summer, the hemp maze and of course a conference. The festival itself was full of different workshops and concerts. Introducing different options on why hemp is being grown and what are the main uses.
Why it’s useful to grow hemp
Growing hemp is highly beneficial due to its versatility and sustainability. Hemp can be used in various industries, including textiles, construction, food, and even biofuel. It grows quickly, doesn’t require pesticides, and can improve soil health through phytoremediation. Hemp also produces a fairly high yield per hectar, making it an efficient crop for farmers. Additionally, hemp’s ability to sequester carbon dioxide helps combat climate change. These factors make hemp cultivation a promising option for economic development and environmental sustainability.
Read more in detail -> here.
The hemp maze
The hemp maze is situated in Saverna, Kanepi vald, Põlvamaa. The hemp maze is full of useful bits of information about hemp to share knowledge to visitors. Once you enter the maze the final goal is to find the enormous hemp leaf, which has been cut into the field with gps coordinates. The variety used to create the maze is the most popular variety grown in Estonia – Estica. As the plants grow quite high, it’s not very easy to find the leaf, so it’s a nice challenge to overcome when visiting.
The hemp conference
The hemp conference consisted of 7 different main topics, and since there’s always a lot to talk about regarding hemp, it lasted more than 3,5 hours. At the Hemp Conference, scientists, entrepreneurs, and other enthusiasts discussed the role of hemp in agriculture and cultural heritage. The conversation also covered the environmental sustainability and restrictions of hemp cultivation. Industrial hemp farming and value addition is a growing trend worldwide. From Nordic Hemp Riina Rõõm and Joonas Põllumäe talked about the future of hemp and shared insights from their experience.
The full conference recording (in Estonian):
